Motegi meets Lavrov in Atlanta to press for Japanese detainee's release
Japan's foreign minister sought immediate freedom for a journalist held on espionage charges in Russia's Sakhalin region during a G20 session.
By Nathan Reed ·
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi demanded the immediate release of a Japanese national detained in Russia's Sakhalin region. He made this request during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Atlanta on Friday.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of a G20 gathering. It was a rare high-level contact between the two nations. Their relationship has strained due to the war in Ukraine and a long-standing territorial dispute.
Russia announced this month that it detained a Japanese journalist in the far eastern Sakhalin region. The country cited suspicion of espionage as the reason for the hold. This incident marked a new low in bilateral relations that have worsened in recent months.
Japan's embassy in Washington issued a statement confirming the meeting. It said Motegi made a formal demarche regarding current issues between the two countries. The statement noted that Motegi strongly called for the detainee's immediate release. He also urged Russia to take positive actions toward achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
The two ministers agreed to maintain communication despite the severe state of relations. Russia's Interfax news agency reported that the Foreign Ministry said the brief talk was held at Japan's request. The Russian side emphasized that full-fledged interstate dialogue requires Tokyo to give up unfriendly policies.
Tensions between Russia and Japan have deepened since Japan joined Western sanctions against Moscow. Russia now regards Japan as an unfriendly country. The two nations have yet to sign a formal World War Two peace treaty because of the dispute over the Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories. Despite the diplomatic friction, trade continues. Japan remains a purchaser of Russian liquefied natural gas.
Earlier in the day, G20 foreign ministers skipped a traditional group photo in Atlanta. European representatives objected to the presence of Russia due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Source: KELO
